Internet trolls and bullies were the last thing on the The Only Way Is Essex star's mind when a routine test which picked up abnormal cells

Lauren Goodger thought being bullied was the worst thing that could happen to her until a cancer scare left her terrified she was going to die.

The ex-TOWIE star, 26, feared she had cervical cancer after she went for a routine test which picked up abnormal cells.

But she says her health worries have made her realise how fortunate she is and spurred her on to hit back against internet trolls who continue to torment her about her weight.

Lauren says: “When people really have a go at me, I remind myself how lucky I am. I went for my usual routine smear test and they found abnormal cells. I needed to have a colposcopy, a procedure where they look at what’s going on and then treat it.

“The first thing that I thought was, I’m gonna die. I’ve got cancer. I was frightened about what they might find and I was nervous about the procedure.”

The scare happened when Lauren was 21 but after having treatment she was given the all clear.

douglas.wight@talk21.com

Tears: Lauren had her confidence knocked

She says: “It was quite painful even though they gave me a local anaesthetic. Afterwards I bled for a while and felt weak. In my case, they were able to laser the abnormal cells away.

“I was so relieved but I worried for ages that it hadn’t gone away and that something bad was going to happen. I had to go back every six months for a smear test. Now I just have one every year and, thank God, it all seems to be clear.

“So when the bullies are at their worst, thinking about what happened makes me realise how small-minded they really are.”

In her explosive new book, she reveals: “It’s like the world is watching my every move – including everything I eat – and that has knocked my confidence.

douglas.wight@talk21.com

Good girl: Attending a charity event

“The body fascists love to have a go at me at every available opportunity, which is hard. I’m not a naturally skinny person and it feels like the older I’m getting, the bigger I’m getting, or maybe that’s the pressure.”

The former Dancing on ice contestant adds: “I have been bullied before. It’s bloody horrible when people start on you. And here I am at 26 still being bullied. The trick is not to let them bother you. But that’s hard, especially when they call me names like beached whale.

“People can be so abusive when they are hiding behind a computer and I don’t think they realise the hurt they cause, or maybe they do and that’s what they get their kicks from. It’s just plain nasty.”

The former secretary, who gave up her job to join the ITV2 series, says: “I remember one comment posted about an unflattering outfit I was wearing. It read, ‘vile fat pouty trouty pig... just stay in love u stink of desperation’. This person doesn’t even know me – it’s just some horrid internet troll. However strong I am, that sort of comment gets to me.”

ITV

On ice: Lauren on skates

Lauren admits that around that time she began to see something very different in her reflection.

She says: “I knew I wasn’t fat, but everything felt tight. I started to avoid mirrors, and if I did catch a glimpse, I’d see a girl who needed to lose weight.

“Often when I see nasty photos of myself, I’m like, ‘How can I think I look good and then a picture of me like that is taken?’ and suddenly I hate myself.”

The star’s turbulent relationship with love rat Wright was played out for millions to see.

PA

Cheat: With Mark and Sam in TOWIE

She explains: “I felt so humiliated to know the whole country had seen my boyfriend mess about with other girls. I worried there might have been other girls I didn’t know about.”

One she did find out about was Sam Faiers. She says: “One of the producers told me I had to run through this bush. I was wondering what was waiting there. I never in a million years thought it would be Mark kissing Sam. I could see them together and I stormed off. I ripped off my mic and wanted to go home. I was crying and screaming. I couldn’t believe they made me watch that, knowing how devastated I’d be after having broken up with Mark so recently.”

douglas.wight@talk21.com

Starlet: With her dad

douglas.wight@talk21.com

Cute: Lauren as a little girl

As a teenager Lauren was a skinny size 8 but has battled with her weight since developing her curves at 19 – around the time she had an abortion after getting pregnant with Mark’s baby.

Lauren says: “I was very down after that and when I am down, I do comfort-eat. But it wasn’t that – it was like my body had matured and I had become a woman.”